The White House on Thursday warned Republicans that President Obama would veto a compromise bill giving Congress the authority to review a nuclear deal with Iran if amendments are added to the legislation on the Senate floor.
“If there is an attempt to undermine that compromise … the president would absolutely veto that bill,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of any amendment calling on Obama to certify that Iran is not supporting terrorism against the United States.
On Tuesday, the White House abruptly dropped opposition to legislation authored by Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Bob Menendez, D-N.Y., which gives lawmakers a say on the nuclear pact the administration wants to finalize with Iran by the end of June.
The bill unanimously sailed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after Corker agreed to hold off on the Iran terrorism provision and cut the congressional review period to 30 days. Some Republicans, however, could offer amendments when the legislation reaches the floor of the upper chamber.
Though the White House called the legislation a bipartisan compromise, its expected passage represents a major blow to Obama, who had insisted that such a bill could undermine talks with Iran.
Under the initial framework agreed to among the P5+1 nations — the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — and Iran, the Middle Eastern nation would limit its nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief.
